Park Graduate Walter Earns Save In WVU Win At Pitt

PITTSBURGH (April 1, 2014) – The West Virginia University baseball swept the season series against Pitt with a 6-4 victory on Tuesday evening at Charles L. Cost Field.

The Mountaineers improved to 16-8 overall and won 2-0 in the season series after winning 6-3 last Tuesday in Morgantown. Pittfell to 15-12 overall and was issued its first home loss this season.

WVU pounded out 11 hits, led by two hits and three RBIs off the bat of junior catcher Cam O’Brien. Junior center fielder Bobby Boyd had three hits and junior third baseman Justin Fox (Magnolia) had two hits, while six different players scored one run.

O’Brien gave the Mountaineers the go-ahead 6-4 lead in the top of the seventh with a two-run bases loaded single up the middle. The two-out hit scored Fox from second and senior first baseman Ryan McBroom from third.

The win was awarded to right-handed reliever Michael Bennett (2-0), who gave up two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings. Bennett struck out one and walked one.

Right-hander Corey Walter (Wheeling Park) picked up his fourth save of the season, entering the game in the seventh inning. Walter allowed two hits and struck out one in 2.1 innings.

Boyd led off the game with a double to the right center field gap and then scored on a wild pitch to give WVU a 1-0 lead. It was the 19th time this season that WVU has scored the game’s first run.

Pitt took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the thirdfollowing a two-run single to right field by Casey Roche. Stephen Vranka, who reached on an error, and Dylan Wolsonovich scored on the base knock.

Following Pitt taking the lead, junior left-hander John Means (4-1) was relieved after reaching his pitch count. Means allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in 2.2 innings pitched. He struck out three and walked two in the no-decision.

The Mountaineers took advantage of a Pitt error in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs and taking a 4-2 lead. Senior left fielder Jacob Rice scored on a fielder’s choice to second base by freshman designated hitter Jackson Cramer to tie the game. O’Brien laced a doubled down the right field to score freshman right fielder Shaun Wood and Cramer scored on a successful squeeze bunt by junior shortstop Cody Semler.

Back-to-back doubles by Steven Shelinsky Jr. and Jordan Frabasilio tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth as Shelinsky Jr. drove in Eric Hess and Frabasilio plated Shelinsky Jr.

Roche went 3-for-5 with two RBIs to lead the Panthers. Pitt reliever Sam Mersing (1-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 0.2 innings with three walks and one strikeout.

West Virginia will open the road Big 12 season at TCU this weekend. Friday’s game will start at 7:30 p.m., Saturday’s game will begin at 5 p.m. and Sunday’s finale, which will be televised by Fox Sports Southwest, is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.

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